NOTE: check the April 18th and 25th Compass print issues for more coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States.

Local Catholics attend White House reception for Pope Benedict

By Sam LuceroCompass Staff

GREEN BAY -- When Deacon Everett Doxtator of St. Joseph Parish in Oneida received an e-mail April 3 inviting him to a White House reception for Pope Benedict XVI on April 16, he thought it was a belated April Fools joke.

The e-mail, he said, was from the White House and it invited him to attend a formal welcome for Pope Benedict on the South Lawn of the White House given by President George W. and Laura Bush.

His invitation to the papal reception wasn't a prank, since Deacon Doxtator sits on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' National Advisory Council. It was his council membership that led to the invitation, which he saw as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Full story ...